Bardsley proud of Lionesses and goalkeeping standards

The goalkeeper was named player of the match after making a string of important saves to help her side pick up their maiden win in the knockout stages of a World Cup.

One stop in particular caught the eye when she rushed from her line to deny Isabell Herlovsen after just 11 minutes.

Bardsley said: "I think it comes down to moments.

"Fortunately for me things just seemed to slow down and I was in the right frame of mind to make myself as big as possible and be in the right place at the right time."

The 30-year-old made a number of other crucial interventions which laid the foundations for England’s win.

A hitherto dominant Norway took the lead through Solveig Gulbrandsen early in the second half, but the Lionesses responded with a Steph Houghton header and a Lucy Bronze thunderbolt.

Mark Sampson’s side finished the tie strongly and held on for an historic win.

England celebrate Lucy Bronze's winner against Norway to set up a quarter final clash with hosts Canada

Bardsley added: "I couldn’t be prouder of our team. We showed an amazing amount of character. We were very resolute.

"The fact that we had a decision to make in terms of what sort of reaction we would have [to going behind], I’m very, very proud that we made a positive one.

"We weren’t discouraged by conceding. Throughout the team we feel that we have gained so much momentum coming through the group stage. 

"We had a lot of that to draw on and we dug very, very deep to make it happen."

Bardsley made an important first-half save in the win over Norway

Bardsley is one of a number of goalkeepers to earn plaudits during this World Cup and she believes that is down to improving standards across the board.

She said: "There are a lot of fantastic goalkeepers in the tournament and it just goes to show the position itself is evolving.

"For every fantastic goalscorer, there’s a fantastic goalkeeper, so we are going to try and make it as difficult as we can for them to score.

"I’m very proud, not only of my goalkeeping unit within the squad, but also the goalkeepers’ union within the tournament."

England will take on host nation Canada in the World Cup quarter final in Vancouver on Saturday.